Existence

Chapter 14

"I don't need a babysitter."

"Who says I'm babysitting?" Casey pouted at Sarah, nearly tripping on a rock in the trail. "I just want to spend some time with my friend. Is that wrong?"

"Now you remember we're friends," Sarah said, munching on a peach Casey had given her back at camp.

Casey suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her. The sudden stop nearly made her drop her peach.

"Ms. Walkman, please forgive me!" He cried dramatically, a hand over his heart. "I swear I had your best interests at heart. But I see now. Ignoring you days after your arrival in this fair land was the final straw. Let me make it up to you! What do you want? Strawberries? A new dress? Oh, maybe I should shine your shoes for you."

Sarah laughed at his antics, stepping back as he made a fake grab for her shoes.

"Okay, okay. Stand up, good sir."

He gave her a lopsided grin as he got to his feet. She shook her head at him.

"You definitely should've gotten the part of Romeo in the school play."

"Oh, I did get the part." He said, brushing a few fallen leaves from his hair as he did. "I just passed it on to Johnny."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "Traveling back and forth between our worlds doesn't really leave much time for rehearsals. I only auditioned to prove I could get the part." He grinned at her and directed them down an alley. They'd reached the bulk of the village proper.

"Joking aside, I do feel bad about not spending much time with you yesterday, Sar. In a new place with unfamiliar faces... I'm glad you made friends." At her confused expression, he added, "Alfred mentioned it this morning."

"I see," Sarah said, throwing her peach pit into what she assumed was a garbage can. It landed with a crunch on a pile of old leaves and corn cobs. "Well, you couldn't have spent time with me in the village even if you wanted to, what with your patrols and everything."

"Which is why we'll be doing it today!"

"What?" Sarah glanced up at Casey's sparkling eyes. He looked quite pleased with what he had just said.

"I'm going to show you some important landmarks and passageways in Solquis. In case there's an attack, you'll know where to go. But this is just in case! According to the plan, you'll have at least one of us with you at all times."

"The plan," Sarah echoed.

"Mhm," Casey agreed, stopping at a crossroads. "This would be easier if we had Alfred with us, but—"

"What would be easier if you had Alfred with you?" An arm snaked around Casey's shoulders in a side hug, and the blond would've jumped ten feet in the air if not for the newcomer's firm grip.

"Holy Felar, Alfred!" Casey exclaimed, for indeed, Alfred had snuck up on them.

"Casey, Sarah." The teen guard grinned at them, hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. He had his helmet tucked under his other arm, his black hair pulled into a short ponytail. "What's growing?"

"My undeniable hatred for you," Casey quipped, still trying to get out of Alfred's grip.

"Aww, you love me."

"In your dreams."

"And how pleasant they are, too."

Sarah watched as the two wrestled for control over the other. She glanced around for other guards, wondering what they would make of the spectacle. The village square was several blocks away, but there was no mistaking the big statue standing in the middle. Sarah wondered if the children were already there, playing with Sammy.